Boston, November 22nd, 2025
Dear AAWE Members,
With great sadness, I would like to inform you that Dr. Peter H. Irwin, a longtime member of our wind engineering community, passed away on November 15th, 2025 in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Dr. Irwin was a pioneer in the wind engineering field and a very active member of this organization and the wind engineering field at large. His contributions to our field are tangible and long-lasting. As a wind engineering expert and practitioner, he was involved in many of the most challenging projects that our community has encountered, from complex aerodynamic designs of tall buildings to bridge aeroelasticity (just to name a few). In recent years, he was involved in the design of large-scale experimental facilities as a consultant and a specially appointed wind engineering faculty in our university system. In 2022, he was elected as an International Member of the United States National Academy of Engineering. He was an active contributor to the Americas Conferences on Wind Engineering (e.g., a major sponsor each time) and other activities that this association has promoted over the years.
In 2016, the AAWE created a biennial lecture series, the “Peter Irwin Lecture”, which is usually held in conjunction with the America’s Conference on Wind Engineering (ACWE). The third lecture just took place in May 2025 at the 15th ACWE in St. Louis, MO. The lecture was named to honor Dr. Irwin’s career, from his earliest contributions in 1974, to his latest achievements, as an aerospace and wind engineer, bluff body aerodynamics researcher, and founder of the wind engineering consultancy – RWDI.
Most importantly, Dr. Irwin was a strong advocate for young researchers and wind engineering practitioners, always kind and providing positive criticism to those who were starting to work in this field. This is how I personally met Dr. Irwin for the first time, at a wind engineering symposium in 2003, where Dr. Irwin took time to listen to my wind engineering problem and provided valuable technical suggestions; at that time, as a young post-doctoral student, this was an invaluable motivational encouragement. I am sure that many of us share similar experiences and memories.
On behalf of the AAWE Community, I would like to extend our condolences to his wife, children and family.
Please take a moment to read the Memory Card that Dr. Irwin’s family has prepared, which includes his life and journey to success and where you may find more specific information:
https://www.guelphtoday.com/obituaries/irwin-peter-hamlyn-11513738
Finally, and on behalf of all of us, I will post this note on the website of AAWE as soon as possible.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts and suggestions.
Yours Sincerely,
Luca Caracoglia
AAWE President